And the number of animals euthanized fell by 10.8percent, from 14,634 to 13,049, according to 2012 statistics released by the shelter last week.

Now the sad news: A little more than half of the animals that got taken into the OC Animal Care shelter last year didn't get out alive. About 47 percent were euthanized, an additional 6 percent were euthanized at the request of their owners, and about 1 percent died or escaped. The 54 percent overall death rate was pretty much the same as 2011.

In raw numbers, that's 8,944 cats, 2,628 dogs, and 1,477 other animals, including rabbits, birds, snakes and small livestock.

OC Animal Care director Ryan Drabek said animals that have some form of identification, such as a collar tag or a microchip, are less likely to be euthanized in the shelter, which could help explain why more dogs than cats leave the shelter with their lives.

"We feel that pet identification is a significant component in helping our shelter reduce intake and euthanasia," Drabek told us by email. "In 2012, only 1,868 stray animals total came into our shelter with some form of identification (license, microchip, ID tag, etc.). Most of those were dogs."

Unidentified animals that are impounded at the OC Animal Care shelter – almost 28,000 of them last year – must be medically treated, sheltered and maintained, temperament tested and approved for adoption or rescue placement, promoted, and eventually adopted or euthanized, Drabek said.

Of animals that came into the shelter with some sort of identification last year, 61 percent were returned to their owners and 13 percent were euthanized. Of animals who were not wearing identification when they were impounded, 8 percent were returned to their owners and 55 percent were euthanized.

OC Animal Care has been using new machines to make free ID tags at pet adoption events in an effort to promote pet identification, Drabek said.

Low-cost ID microchips are available at OC Animal Care low-cost vaccine clinics every month, and pet owners can license their pets using the OC Animal Care website. All dog-owners in Orange County are required by law to license their canines.

This year, more feral cats might be able to dodge the needle. OC Animal Care plans to launch a pilot program called Feral Free, which will allow shelter workers to spay or neuter feral cats and return them to the places they were found, Drabek said. OC Animal care will work with Feral Alley Cats & Friends SPCA, a California nonprofit, to release the cats.

Funded by a $20,000 grant from the American Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals, a national nonprofit, the Feral Free program is intended to reduce feral cat populations and litters of unwanted kittens, Drabek said. Up to this point, trapping and euthanizing feral cats has done little to decrease the number of wild felines in Orange County.

Feral cats and kittens younger than 6 weeks old accounted for 70 percent of the total cats euthanized at the shelter in 2012, Drabek said.

Related Links

Ashley is a spayed Autralian shepherd-Labrador retriever who is about 9 years old. She is available for adoption. Animal #A1231764. Kennel #379. H. LORREN AU JR., ORANGE COUNTY REGISTER
Nina gives OC Animal Care volunteer Nancy Wickens some love. The Chihuahua shorthair came into the shelter as a stray Feb. 7. She's about 5 years old and available for adoption. She is animal #A1231172 and resides in kennel #293. "These dogs deserve a home," said Wickens. "All they want is some love," she said. H. LORREN AU JR., ORANGE COUNTY REGISTER
This little 1-year-old miniature pinscher mix came into the OC Animal Care as a stray Feb. 10. She doesn't have a name, is spayed and desperately needs a home. Animal #1231607. Kennel #304. H. LORREN AU JR., ORANGE COUNTY REGISTER
Simba's got the reputation of being a pretty relaxed guy at OC Animal Care in Orange. He is a neutered brown tabby, a little over 6 years old and very adoptable. He's animal #A1228224 and hangs out in kennel #C043. H. LORREN AU JR., ORANGE COUNTY REGISTER
Ashley is a spayed Autralian shepherd-Labrador retriever who is about 9 years old. She is available for adoption. Animal #A1231764. Kennel #379. H. LORREN AU JR., ORANGE COUNTY REGISTER
Dustin, left, and Janie hang out together in kennel #306 at the OC Animal Care in Orange on Tuesday. They are both Chihuahua shorthair mixes available for adoption. Dustin is animal #A1228838, and is about 2 years old, and Janie is 7 years old. She is animal #A1228839. H. LORREN AU JR., ORANGE COUNTY REGISTER
Sooner nuzzles up to OC Animal Care volunteer Sharon Warren. He is a neutered Cairn terrier mix. He's about 1 year old. He should be introduced slowly to other pets and has a sweet personality. He is available for adoption as animal #A1231451 and is in kennel #312. H. LORREN AU JR., ORANGE COUNTY REGISTER
Anakin is a tan and black Siberian husky mix available for adoption. He's 3 years old. Animal #A1230793. Kennel #357. H. LORREN AU JR., ORANGE COUNTY REGISTER
Sophia snuggles up in her bed at OC Animal Care in Orange. She is a female calico and white domestic shorthair. She's about 1 year old and available for adoption. Animal #A1231979. Kennel #C070. H. LORREN AU JR., ORANGE COUNTY REGISTER
Polo is a neutered American pit bull terrier. He's 3 years, 1 month old. He's a bit strong on the leash but a lovable dog. He takes treats from the hand. He is available for adoption. Animal #A1230655. Kennel #340. H. LORREN AU JR., ORANGE COUNTY REGISTER
This nameless, 6-month-old stray came into the OC Animal Care in Orange on Feb. 9. The pup is a neutered yellow dachshund mix and is adoptable. Animal #A1231518. Kennel #337. H. LORREN AU JR., ORANGE COUNTY REGISTER
Duke is sweet and fairly calm. He is a neutered miniature pinscher mix. He's 2 years, 2 months old. He's playful with other dogs and walks nicely on a leash and loves laps. Animal #A1225424. Kennel #373. He is available for adoption. H. LORREN AU JR., ORANGE COUNTY REGISTER
Director of OC Animal Care Ryan Drabek holds Simba, a neutered brown tabby that's a little over 6 years old. He's adoptable. Simba is animal #A1228224 and resides in kennel #C043 at the shelter. H. LORREN AU JR., ORANGE COUNTY REGISTER
Lucky is an older dog who is calm and loving. He came in as an owned pet but his owners did not come in for him. He likes long walks and loves people. He is a neutered Chihuahua shorthair and is available for adoption. Animal #A0704357. Kennel #346. H. LORREN AU JR., ORANGE COUNTY REGISTER
Snowy is a female white rabbit shorthair mix that's about 10 months old. She's pretty independent. Will allow someone to pick her up but is not really sure if she likes it. Animal #A1230139. Kennel #AVOG. H. LORREN AU JR., ORANGE COUNTY REGISTER
Muska is very playful and would love some leash training. He is a Labrador retriever mix that's 7 years, 7 months old. Animal #0970135. Kennel #300. He is available for adoption. H. LORREN AU JR., ORANGE COUNTY REGISTER
Manny is a neutered tan and black Papillon mix. He is 1 year, 1 month old and is available for adoption. Animal #1230401. Kennel #367. H. LORREN AU JR., ORANGE COUNTY REGISTER
Nelly is a spayed Parson Russ terrier mix. She is 1 year, 1 month old. She should be a house dog. She is available for adoption. Animal #A1230180. Kennel #348. H. LORREN AU JR., ORANGE COUNTY REGISTER
Cesar is a black and tan neutered miniature pinscher-dachshund. He came in as a stray. He's about 4 years old. He is available for adoption. Animal #1230453. Kennel #355. H. LORREN AU JR., ORANGE COUNTY REGISTER
Ryan Drabek is director of OC Animal Care in Orange. The shelter has recently released its annual shelter statistics for 2012. H. LORREN AU JR., ORANGE COUNTY REGISTER

1 of

User Agreement

Keep it civil and stay on topic. No profanity, vulgarity, racial
slurs or personal attacks. People who harass others or joke about
tragedies will be blocked. By posting your comment, you agree to
allow Orange County Register Communications, Inc. the right to
republish your name and comment in additional Register publications
without any notification or payment.